Walking figure wheeled toy



g- 3 1929- w. A. BARRY WALKING FIGURE WHEELED TOY Filed Aug. 1927 j 10 Z17 1a 15 13m?" y INVENTOR ATTORNEY claims.

Patented Aug. 13, 1929.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM A. BARRY, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

WALKING FIGURE WHEELED TOY.

Application filed August 1, 1927.

Serial No. 209,936.

The present invention relates to the art Figure 4 is a side view.

of toys and particularly to the wheeled walking type, the idea being toprovide an improved walking toy, so constructed and connected to a wheelsupported body, that in pulling the same over a fiat Surface, such asthe pavement or floor, the toy in its movement over the surface, willgive a relatively true representation of walking movement.

In other words the construction and arrangement is such, and due tooperative connections between the legs of the toy, the legs and feetwill be synchronized in their swinging movements.

Another purpose is to mount the body of the walking toy on an extensionof the wheeled body, the co-operat-ion between which and the body of thewalking toy, will be such as to cause a waddling action, assistingmaterially in causing swinging actions to be imparted to the legs. Thewaddling movement of the body of the walking toy including means tolimit the body in such waddling movements.

Another purpose is to provide the legs with relatively heavy feet, theirinner portions adjacent their forward ends being cut away and havingmetal wear strips substantially conforming to the contour of the inneredge of the feet and the cut away portions thereof as to enable the feetto swing past each other during the synchronized swing ing actions ofthe legs, said wear strips acting as gravity means to facilitate theswinging action.

It is to be understood that the particulars herein given are in no waylimitive, and that while still keeping within the scope of theinvention, any desired modification of detials and proportions may bemade in the construction of the device according to circumstances.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts to behereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings" and In the drawings Figure1 is a view in front elevation showing the body of the walking figure ofthe toy tilted 'to one side to the extreme end of its waddling movementin one direction.

Figure 2 is a similar View, but showing the body of the walking figureinclined to the extreme end of its waddling movement in the oppositedirection.

Figure 3 is a top plan view.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view on line 55 of Figure 2, showingthe operative connections between the legs, whereby they aresynchronized in their swinging actions.

Figure 6 is a rear view of the walking figure of the toy, illustratingthe limiting abutments, which limit the walking figure in its waddlingmovements toward either side.

Referring to the drawings,1 identifies a body having conventionallysupporting wheels 2, and projecting forwardly from the body 1 is a frame3, which is rectangular in plan view, and 4t identifies a walkingfigure. This figure comprises a body 5, which, in frontelevation is ofthe general outline of a human, having arms, head and shoulders. Thebody 5 of the walking figure has a headed pin 6, which is fulcrumed in atransverse portion 7 of the frame 3, thereby pivotally mounting thewalking figure on the frame. In the present instance the headed pin isin the form of a screw, though any other suitable device may beemployed, and is threaded into the rear portion of the body 5 of thewalking figure. Suitable washers 8 are interposed between the transverseportion 7 of the frame and the head of the pin and between said portionand the rear face of the body 5 of the walking figure, thereby enablingthe walking figure to oscillate laterally with uniform movements.

Projecting rearwardly from the rear face of the body 5 of the walkingfigure are limiting abutments 9, which are so disposed adjacent theopposite edges at the sides of the body 5 of the walking figure as tocooperate with the transverse portion 7 of the frame 3, as to limit thebody 5 in its oscillatory movements laterally. However, the movements ofthe walking figure laterally are such as to cause a substantially truerepre sentation of the waddling movements of some humans.

Formed integrally with and depending from the lower edge of the body 5of the walking figure and in spaced position are legs 10. The body 5 ofthe walking figure may be made of any suitable material, either fibre,wood or the like, preferably the latter, while the frame is in the formof a U-shaped metal strip, and the supporting wheels 2 are of metal,though not necessarily, as it is obvious they may be constructed ofwood. The body 1 of the toy is in the form of a wooden vehicle or cartbody.

As previously stated the legs 10 and the central lug 11 which dependfrom the body 5 of the walking figure are spaced causing bifurcations 12to be formed. Passing through the lugs, as is shown, is a ,pivot rod 13,which may be in the form of a pin headed at 14 on both ends, though notnecessarily, as it is obvious that nuts may be applied to the ends ofthe rod. Legs 15 are pivotally mounted upon the rod 13, and they are ofrelatively substantial size in diameter as well as in length, anddepending from their lower ends are relatively heavy enlarged feet 16.These feet extend at right angles to the lower ends of the legs, andtheir lower surfaces are arcuate as shown in formation.

Pivotally mounted upon the lower end of the central lug 11 is anoscillatory link 17 mounted upon a headed pin 18, which de pends fromthe central lug 11. The opposite ends of the oscillatory link engagesubstantially loosely in holes or cavities 19 in opposed but adjacentfaces of the legs 15 at points immediately adjacent the crotch betweenthe two legs. By means of this oscillatory link the legs aresynchronized in their swinging or lateral movements, so that when oneleg is forward of the body 5 of the walking figure,the other leg isrearward and vice versa.

The relatively large heavy feet, as previously stated, are arcuate ontheir under surfaces, and they may be any approved contour in plan view.under surface of the feet are substantially 'arcuate, they aresubstantially thicker toward their inner portions than toward the outerportions, which shape is shown clearly in FigureQ and it for the reasonthat the undersurface of the foot 22 swung to the rear is disclosed,while the under surface of the opposite foot swung forwardly is entirelyobscure, excepting where the forward under surface of the foot is cutaway or beveled ofi' partially adjacent the inner portion of the foot.In other words the under surface of each foot inclines from the innerthicker side of the foot to the thinner outer side of the foot, enablingthe weight of the body of the figure and the weight of the forwardportion of the wheeled frame to be supported first on one foot and thenthe'other, that is first supported on the inner thicker portion of thefoot, until the body of the figure over balances, and causes the figureto tilt or waddle to one side. The forward portions of the undersurfaces of the feet at their adjacent edges are cut away or bevelledoff, not only fromtheir toe portions in- Wardly and rearwardly towardthe inner edges of the feet, but also inclined from their bias points'20 upwardly, inwardly and forwardly toward their inner adjacent toepor- However, while the tions as identified at 21. The construction andarran ement of these bevelled or inclined surfaces are such as topermit. the feet to escape the surface on which the toy is walking,during their synchronized oscillatory movements. The under surfaces ofthe feet also have metal wear strips 22, which conform to the inneradjacent side edges and the bias origins of the bevelled 0r inclinedsurfaces, performing the dual purpose of gravity means to insureswinging movements of the legs and feet, and also to avoid wear upon theunder surfaces of the feet proper.

Fastened on the front face of the body 5 of the walking figure is ascrew eye 22:3, to which a cord 24 is attached, by which the toy may bepulled over the surface on which it traverses. As the toy is pulled, dueto the wheeled body and its frame, the walking figure waddlcs or swingsto one side, and the legs are given movements, such as willsubstantially represent the walking movements of a human being. 7

The walking figure wheeled toy travels as follows:

hen the walking figure wheeled toy is pulled by a string or cord 24 thewalking figure may be placed as in Figure l, and iii which position oneleg is forward due to the link connection 17, the link 1 being pivotedat 18 to the body of the toy and owing to the position of one leg beingforward and the link 17 having been tilted the other leg is in arearward position. Due to the walking figure being mounted on a twowheeled toy, the wheels as they roll oscillate. In other words the body1 of the wheeled toy oscillates on a perpendicular axis passingvertically through the body and through the middle of the axle, on whichthe wheels 2 are mounted, and since the adjacent under portions of thefeet near the forward end of the feet are cut away, or curved or leveledoff one foot will swing past the other foot without hitting the groundsurface. This is particularly due to the fact that the body of thewalking figure is balanced on the pivot 6, resting on one foot, thewheeled toy being previously oscillated on the perpendicular axisthrough the center of the body 1. The limiting abutments 9 act to limitthe tilting movement of the body of the walking figure, by engaging withthe transverse portion 7 of the frame 3. As the body balances on one legand then the other and due to the wheeled toy oscillating on saidperpeinlicnlar axis through the body and through the medium .of the linkconnection 17, the legs and feet will sving past each other withouthitting the ground surface.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed is:

1. A walking figure wheeled toy to be in]- ill] llll) polled forwardly,the combination with a wheeled frame, of a walking figure with its bodyfulcrumed to the forward end of the fame, swinging legs depending fromthe body of the walking figure, meansfor sup porting the weight of thebody first ,on one leg and then the other, while the opp site leg swingsforward, thereby giving the walkring figure lateral waddling movementsas the toy is impelled, means on the body to cooperate with the framefor limiting the figure in its lateral waddling movements, and means forsynchronizing the legs in their swinging movements.

2. In a toy as set forth, a frame having supporting wheels and adaptedto be impolled forwardly, a walking figure including a. body operativelypivoted to theforward end of the frame, legs swingingly depending fromthe body of the figure having feet to engage with the surface on whichthe toy operates, said feet having their under portions out way, wherebythe weight of the body may rest first on one leg then the other and theopposite leg will be free to swing forwardly, thereby causing the figureto have lateral waddling movements, andv operative connections betweenthe legs to synchronize them in their swinging movements as the figurewaddles laterally.

3. In a toy as set forth, a wheeled frame to be impelled forwardly, awalking figure comprising a body and a pair of swinging legs havingfeet, the body of the figure being operatively mounted on the forwardend of the frame, the construction and formation of the under surfacesof said feet being such that the body and the forward end of the framemay be supported first on one leg and then the other, the opposite legbeing free to swing forwardly, whereby lateral waddling movements areimparted to the figure, and means on the body to cooperate with theframe for limiting the figure in such movements in either direction.

1-. In a toy as set forth, the combination with a wheeled frame to beimpelled forwardly, of a walking figure comprising a body fulcrumed tothe forward end of the frame and adapted to waddle laterally, means onthe body to cooperate with the frame for limiting the body in itslateral waddling movements, swinging legs depend ing from the bodywhereby the weight of the body and the forward end of the frame may besupported first on. one leg and then the other and the opposite legwill-be free to swing forwardly, means for synchronizing the legs intheir swinging movements, said legs having feet,'the forward adjacentunder surface of which being cut away to permit the legs to swingwithout interference with the surface on which the toy traverses.

5. In a toy as set forth, a two-wheeled frame to be impelled forwardly,a walking figure comprising a body operatively pivoted to the frame onan axis passing horizontally therethrough, whereby the body of thefigure is adapted to have lateral waddling movements, legs swinginglydepending from the body of the figure, the weight of the body and theforward end of the frame adapted to be supported first on one leg andthen. the other, and the opposite leg will be free to swing forwardly,said legs having feet with their forward adjacent under surfaces cutaway to permit the legs to swing without interference with the surfaceon which the toy traverses.

6. In a toy as set forth, a two-wheeled frame to be impelled forwardly,a walking figure comprising a body operatively pivoted on an axispassing horizontally through the frame, whereby the body of the figureis adapted to have lateral waddling move ments, legs swinginglydepending from the body of the figure, the weight of the body and theforward end of the frame supported first on one leg and then the other,and the opposite leg will be free to swing forwardly, said legs havingfeet with their forward adjacent under surfaces cut away to permit thelegs to swing without interference with the surface on which the toytraverses, means for limiting the body of the figure in its lateralwaddling movements, and operative connections between the legs tosynchronize them in their swinging movements.

7. In a toy as set forth, a two-wheeled frame to be impelled forwardly,a walking figure comprising a body operatively pivoted on an axispassing horizontally through the frame, whereby the body of the figureis adapted to have lateral wacldling movements, legs swinginglydepending from the body of the figure, the weight of the body and theforward end of the frame supported first on one leg and then the other,and the opposite leg may be free to swing forwardly, said legs havingfeet with their forward adjacent under surfaces cut away to permit thelegs to swing without interference with the surface on which the toytraverses, said frame having a forward transverse portion, limitingabutment 011 the rear face of the body of the figure to cooperate withthe adj acent ends of the transverse portion to limit the figure in itslateral waddling movements, said legs having relatively heavy feet attheir lower ends, the adjacent portions of the legs near the crotch ofthe figure having cavities, and an oscillatory link pivoted on the lowerend of the body of the figure in the crotch with the ends of the linkengaging in the cavities to synchronize the legs in their swingingmovements and thereby insuring lateral waddling to the walking figure.

8. In a walking figure wheeled toy to be impelled forwardly, a wheeledframe, a walking figure comprising a body fulcrumed on the forward endof the frame, a pair of link coupled legs swingingly pivoted to thelower part of the body of the walking figure, first one and then theother of the legs acting to support the Weight of the body and the frameand the opposite leg will be free to swing forwardly in representationof walking movements, whereby the fulcrumed walking figure may waddlelaterally.

9. In a walking figure wheeled toy to be impelled forwardly, a wheeledframe, a walking figure comprising a body fulcrumed on the forwardend ofthe frame, a pair of link coupled legs swingingly pivoted to the lowerpart of the body of the walking figure, first one and then the other ofthe legs acting to support the weight of the body and the frame and theopposite leg will be free to swing forwardly in representation ofwalking movements, whereby the fulcrumed walking figure may waddlelaterally, said frame having a forward transverse portion, and means onthe body of the figure adjacent the opposite sides thereof toalternately engage with said trans verse portion to limit the body inits lateral waddling movements.

10. In a walking figure wheeled toy to be impelled forwardly, a wheeledframe, a walking figure comprising a body fulcrumed on the forward endof the frame, a pair of link coupled legs swingingly pivoted to thelower part of thebody of the walking figure,

' first one and then the other of the legs acting to support the weightof the body and the frame and the opposite leg will be free to swingforwardly in representation of walking movements, whereby the fulcrulnedwalking figure may waddle laterally, said frame having a forwardtransverse portion, limiting abutment lugs on the rear face of the bodyof the walking figure adjacent the opposite sides of the body toalternately engage with said transverse portion of the frame to limitthe body of the figure in its lateral waddling movements.

11. In a walking figure wheeled toy to be impelled forwardly, a wheeledframe, a walking figure comprising a body fulcrumed on the forward endof the frame, a pair of link coupled legs swingingly pivoted to thelower part of the body of the walking figure, first one and then theother of the legs adapted to support the weight of the body and theframe and the opposite leg will be free to swing forwardly inrepresentation of walking movements, whereb the fulcrumed walking figuremay wadd e laterally, said frame having a forward transverse portion,and means on the body of the figure adjacent the opposite sides thereofto alternately engage with said transverse portion to limit the body inits lateral waddling movements, said legs having relatively heavy feetat their lower ends, the forward adjacent under surface of the feetbeing cut away to permit the legs to swing without interference with thesurface on which the toy traverses.

In testimony whereof he affixes his signature hereto.

lVILLIAM A. BARRY.

